planetarium

[ plan-i-tair-ee-uhm ]

noun

, plural plan·e·tar·i·ums, plan·e·tar·i·a [plan-i-, tair, -ee-, uh].

1. an apparatus or model representing the planetary system.
2. a device that produces a representation of the heavens by the use of a number of moving projectors.
3. the building or room in which such a device is housed.

planetarium

/ ˌplænɪˈtɛərɪəm /

noun

1. an instrument for simulating the apparent motions of the sun, moon, and planets against a background of stars by projecting images of these bodies onto the inside of a domed ceiling
2. a building in which such an instrument is housed
3. a model of the solar system, sometimes mechanized to show the relative motions of the planets

Word History and Origins

Origin of planetarium¹

1765–75; < New Latin, noun use of neuter of Latin planētārius planetary; -arium

Example Sentences

With the popularity of sky gazing and the closure of observatories and planetariums, telescopes have been in short supply.

From Quartz

The California Academy of Sciences reformatted its planetarium films for YouTube so teachers could show films like Expedition Reef and Fragile Planet to their students.

From Science News

Two weekends a month, the five of us went on trips to the area museums, the aquarium, the art museum, the science museum, the natural history museum, the planetarium.

From Ozy

The planetarium became my portal and my conduit to the cosmos at a very early age.

From Ozy

My weak answer is, at age 9 when I looked up at the dome of the planetarium and the stars came out, I think the universe called me and I had no say in the matter.

From Ozy

Ingulfus mentions at the same time a nadir, as he calls it, or planetarium, executed in various metals.

From Project Gutenberg

It no doubt corresponded in a great measure to our modern planetarium, or orrery, invented by the earl of that name.

From Project Gutenberg

Here also was born the ingenious Eisa Eisinga, who constructed the Franeker planetarium in the intervals of wool-combing.

From Project Gutenberg

The dome was lighted to represent a clear night, and, incidentally, all nights are clear in a planetarium.

From Project Gutenberg

OrreryA planetarium; an instrument showing the relative motions, positions and masses of the sun and planets.

From Project Gutenberg